5 best moments from the FA Cup 3rd round: Liverpool gifts Exeter huge payday

With the iconic FA Cup third round underway, we take a look back at some of the best moments from this weekend's slate of matches.

Exeter earns massive Anfield payday

The setting of St James' Park epitomised why the FA Cup third round weekend is circled in the calendar of many football fans.

The cramped away changing rooms with the solitary toilet, the peeling paint, the kitchen that doubled up as a media room; League Two's Exeter City gave Liverpool a warm welcome, albeit in its old, tired home.

While some naysayers will point out the Reds' young squad as devaluing the host's 2-2 draw in this tie, the performance of Exeter was admirable in a captivating yet scrappy cup match.

The replay at Anfield greatly strengthens the bank balance, with numbers between £700,000 and £1 million touted as the split in gate receipts the fourth-tier club will receive. Sometimes it's good to settle for a draw.

Aguero sharpening up

Sergio Aguero's low centre of gravity, ability to turn on a sixpence, and precise finishing was on show in devastating fashion at Carrow Road on Saturday.

The Argentinian also picked out Kelechi Iheanacho for an assist in Manchester City's 3-0 defeat of Norwich City, and should Aguero be back on song now - it always takes him a few games to hit his rhythm following injury - it could prove pivotal not only in his club's FA Cup effort, but also in its battle for the Premier League title with Arsenal.

Oxford schools Swansea

Oxford, home of one of the planet's finest universities, detective drama series Inspector Morse, and bands such as Ride and Supergrass, was also the location of the greatest upset in this year's third round (barring potential victorious replays for Exeter and Eastleigh).

The League Two side was in control for long periods of the meeting with Swansea City, and will be included in Monday's fourth-round draw thanks to a 3-2 win.

Manager Michael Appleton has been promised half of the gate receipts generated from the tie to purchase new players. This could be the vital push for Oxford's target of promotion to the third tier.

Paul Scholes weighs in on dull Manchester United

Red Devils' hero Paul Scholes has not been one to mince his words about the Louis van Gaal regime, and was at it once again in the wake of Manchester United's last-gasp win over Sheffield United on Saturday.

"There's no spirit, there's nobody having a go at each other, there's no smiling, there's no entertainment. Nothing happens in a game of football here. It's just boring," he told BT Sport.

It's hard not to agree with the red-haired retiree. Van Gaal's slumber-inducing brand of football was on display once again against the League One side, with the home supporters sarcastically cheering the rare efforts on target from their team.

Unique pitch invasions

Too many pitch invasions are now reserved for spotty boys seeking a selfie with a superstar. They are not interesting and, if anything, the peculiar desperation of these trespasses makes them rather unnerving.

Thankfully, the FA Cup provided some truly unique forays onto the pitch:

Everton manager Roberto Martinez on the cat that invaded the Dagenham & Redbridge clash: "I thought he had great style and movement. He's a young cat who'll make mistakes. I don't want to put any pressure on him, but he reminds me of Cecil the lion."

Not only was this Eastleigh pitch invader a couple of strides short of scoring a tap-in before slipping over, this great pace and clever movement came from the legs of a rather seasoned spectator.